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This question is motivated by two questions at MO and at MSE.

I am interested in homeomorphism types of (irreducible) complex-projective varieties with respect to the Zariski topology. Any two Zariski-homeomorphic varieties have to have the same dimension, but there are more subtle Zariski-topological invariants as well. Examples of Zariski-homeomorphisms are provided by biregular maps between varieties and the action of the Galois group $Gal({\mathbb C}/{\mathbb Q})$. Furthermore, clearly, any bijection between (irreducible) projective curves is a Zariski-homeomorphism. On the other hand, it appears that the extreme flexibility of Zariski topology in dimension 1 is just an accident. For instance, it is not hard to prove (and it was essentially known in the 19th century) that the only Zariski-homeomorphisms ${\mathbb C}P^n\to {\mathbb C}P^n$ ($n\ge 2$) are compositions of projective transformations and elements of $Gal({\mathbb C}/{\mathbb Q})$.

Question 1. Suppose that $X, Y$ are (irreducible) complex-projective varieties of dimension $\ge 2$. Is it true that the set of Zariski-homeomorphisms $X\to Y$ is obtained by composing biregular maps (not necessarily between $X$ and $Y$) with actions of some elements of $Gal({\mathbb C}/{\mathbb Q})$?

Question 2. (Somewhat weaker.) Suppose that $X, Y$ are Zariski-homeomorphic (irreducible) complex-projective varieties of dimension $\ge 2$. Is it true that there exists a Zariski-homeomorphism $X\to Y$ obtained by composing a biregular map $X'\to Y'$ with actions of some elements of $Gal({\mathbb C}/{\mathbb Q})$?

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  • $\begingroup$ The following papers may be relevant to your question: Hrushovski, Zilber, Zariski geometries, Bullettins of the AMS (1993); Hrushovski, Zilber, Zariski geometries, Journal of the AMS (1996); Zilber, Zariski geometries: geometry from the logician's point of view (2009). $\endgroup$
    – Qfwfq
    Feb 23, 2014 at 15:10
  • $\begingroup$ @Qfwfq: Thank you, I will take a look! $\endgroup$ Feb 23, 2014 at 23:04
  • $\begingroup$ Since your question was asked, there has been some progress on the Zariski reconstruction problem. However I don't know enough algebraic geometry to understand if this answers your question. arxiv.org/abs/2003.04847 $\endgroup$
    – Ian Agol
    Apr 18, 2023 at 2:26
  • $\begingroup$ @IanAgol: Thank you, I will take a look! $\endgroup$ Apr 18, 2023 at 3:15

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